UB00402 Academic Reading & Writing

Semester 2 Session 2014-15

Essay outline (example)
Group: 1
Essay Title: Reducing the occurrence and impact of flash floods in Malaysia

Introduction
Hook line:
(one sentence)

General information
about topic:
(one sentence)
Thesis statement:
(one sentence)

Kuala Lumpur - City Hall advised KL folk to brace for more

flash floods as the authorities do not have an immediate
solution in sight.
While flash floods in the city have been going on for years,
City Hall revealed yesterday that they have gone back to the
drawing board to identify the causes of such floods (Malay
Mail, 9 October, 2014)
A flash flood is a sudden intense flood which can occur within
minutes or a few hours of excessive rainfall or after a levee
or dam has failed, or after a sudden release of water by
debris (NOAA, 2010).
This essay will examine the issue of flash flooding in Malaysia
and propose 3 solutions, namely improved storm water
drainage design, better forecasting and warning systems and
more proactive measures by relief organisations.

Background
paragraph
Topic sentence:
(How did the
problem start?)

Supporting
information:
(Facts, details, etc.)

Although flooding is to be expected in a country affected by

monsoon weather, including tropical storms and typhoons,
the problem has been made worse by the rapid pace of
building development, and the inadequate response in terms
of improved drainage provision.
Flash flooding in urban areas has become a very serious
problem (surpassing the monsoon floods) since the mid-1990s
- and more than 60% of the Malaysian population is now
urban (Chan, 2012, p.516)

Body paragraph 1
Topic sentence:
(Solution 1)

Supporting
information:

One way of preventing urban flash floods from occurring is by

designing better drainage systems that can cope with the
anticipated surges in water levels, and which take into
consideration future urban development.
Think tank committee needs to be formed involving all
relevant parties Dept of Irrigation and Drainage, Public

(Explanation)
Evaluation:
(How effective is
solution?)

Works Department, Metrological Office, and urban planners

to create long-term drainage solutions.
With so many parties involved in the decision-making process
it may be difficult to come to a consensus: Strong leadership
and considerable financial resources will be required to put
designs into practice.

Body paragraph 2
Topic sentence:
(Solution 2)

Another solution to the flash flood problem is to improve flood

forecasting and early warning systems.

Supporting
information:
(Explanation)

While the government has established an Internet-based

Flood Monitoring System known as Infobanjir , enabling
rainfall and water level data to be collected for the whole
country, as well as a flood monitoring system integrating
remote sensing, hydrological modeling and geographical
information systems (GIS), many towns and cities still have
insufficient warning systems leaving road users and car
drivers vulnerable.

Evaluation:
(How effective is solution?)

The construction of warning light

systems at high risk locations near rivers
and culverts seems like a cost-effective
solution which could realistically be
implemented throughout the country.

Body paragraph 3
Topic sentence:
(Solution 3)

Supporting
information:
(Explanation)

Evaluation:
(How effective is
solution?)
Body paragraph 4 *
Topic sentence *
(Solution 4)

An additional solution to the problem of flash flooding is to

make disaster relief committees more pro-active and less
reactive at every level from government down to the
kampong.
..[T]he NDRM [National Disaster Response Mechanism] is
largely targeted at handling monsoon floodingand is less
than effective and should be re-modeled into something more
pro-active (Chan. 2012, p.526) through the involvement of
NGOs, who can take responsibility for educating local
communities to prepare for flood situations.
This solution depends on the willingness of the stakeholders,
especially the NGOs and public to get involved. Bureaucratic
re-organisation needs to occur at many levels and there
needs to be the political desire for change.
*Only complete if 4 group members

Supporting
information:
(Explanation)*
Evaluation: *
(How effective is
solution?)
Conclusion
Summary of main
points:

Recommendations:

Final comment:

While none of the proposals put forward in this essay are

easily achievable in the short-term, both structural solutions,
such as improving the design of storm water drains, and nonstructural ones, like improving warning systems and getting
NGOs involved in disaster preparation programmes will have
long-term benefits in the battle against flash-flooding.
Using a combination of the three proposed solutions i.e. a
multi-disciplinary approach, would seem to be the best way to
tackle the problem.
Sincere cooperation among all interested parties is the only
way to remove this threat of flash flooding from our lives.